Alexei Sayle narrates a new film being premiered in Liverpool this week about city writer George Garrett.

The film charts the colourful – but in recent years forgotten – life and work of the man who was a Liverpool merchant seaman, social activist and writer who founded what would become the city’s Unity Theatre.

George Garrett – A Stoker with Punch, has been created by Merseyside film-makers Chris Chadwick and Wesley Storey of The Hatch TV production.

It has been produced for Writing on the Wall’s Heritage Lottery-funded George Garrett Archive project.

Liverpool actor Paul Duckworth has recorded a George Garrett voiceover, and the film features a series of interviews with writers, academics and family members, including exclusive interviews with Garrett’s two remaining sons, Roy and Derek.

Hunger March October 1922

Project leader Mike Morris said: “Alexei Sayle’s involvement in the film provides a living link to George Garrett, as his mother and father, Molly and Joe, were good friends of George.

“It was Alexei referring to this in his autobiography, Stalin Ate My Homework, that prompted me to get in touch with him. He was a pleasure to work with and gave his time for free.”

George Garrett was born in Seacombe in 1896 and grew up in the Park Road area of Liverpool.

He ran away to sea as a teenager, jumping ship in Buenos Aires, and in WWI crewed a merchant ship. He survived when it was torpedoed and came back to work on the Liverpool docks.

Garrett was also a friend of Jack and Bessie Braddock, and was admired by George Orwell, who he helped with research for The Road To Wigan Pier.

The play will be premiered at the launch of the George Garrett Archive at Liverpool Central Library on Saturday at 1pm.

The event is part of the Writing on the Wall Festival which runs May 1-31.